photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence junior Caleb Wingerd dives to stop the Olathe Northwest running back Bryce Randall on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, at the CBAC in Olathe.

Olathe — Olathe Northwest ran through the Lawrence defense with ease in a 38-17 Thursday-night loss for the Lions at the College Boulevard Activity Center, as Lawrence fell to 0-3.

Olathe Northwest started with the ball on the first drive, picking up four first downs, one with a penalty and three on the ground, and a score. The Lions’ defense stepped up for a tackle-for-loss on a third-down screen pass, setting up a successful 38-yard field goal for the first points of the game.

Sophomore quarterback Joey Dooley started at quarterback for the Lions and started hot in the passing game. The first two plays of their drive were quick passes, the first an 11-yard pickup to Ethan Curry and the second a 13-yard pickup on a slant to senior receiver Jaxon Becker.

Dooley and senior running back Tahj Edwards picked up a first down on the ground, and Dooley made one of his better plays on a 17-yard pass to senior receiver Khyree McGee where Dooley scrambled to his right and threw the ball near the sideline.

The initial drive stalled after a botched snap on second down put the Lions at third-and-long, but senior kicker Trevon Creager knocked in a field goal to tie the game with under a minute left in the first quarter.

Olathe Northwest senior running back Bryce Randall ran through the middle of the Lawrence defense with open holes throughout the game, and he did most of the work in the Ravens’ second drive. On first-and-goal from the 1-yard line, the Lions brought Randall down for a 5-yard loss, giving the Lions some breathing room defensively, but Randall picked it all back up and spun into the end zone for the first touchdown of the night.

“There’s a lot we need to fix,” Lawrence coach Jason Thoren said of the run defense. “We knew they were good backs. But there was a lot of technique things that we can fix, and we will.”

The Lions struggled to set the edge against the Ravens, and Randall took advantage by bouncing outside for big gains. The Lions fared better when Randall went between the tackles, but he still found a lot of success through the middle as the Olathe Northwest offensive line created easy running lanes.

Dooley opened the drive with a rollout to his left, finding junior receiver Ethan Curry, who ran an extra 20 yards for a 30-yard gain. Edwards ran for 16 yards, which the Lions followed up with a 10-yard screen pass to Curry to get in the red zone.

Dooley kept the ball for a 7-yard gain, but the offense went backward on a jet touch pass to Becker, bringing up a third-and-goal from the 5-yard line. After a brief conversation with the coaches, Dooley hit Becker on a 5-yard slant for a touchdown.

It was Dooley’s first game getting the lion’s share of snaps at quarterback, and he was mostly effective throughout. He finished 16-for-27 with 190 yards and two touchdowns, one through the air and the other on the ground. He ran for 74 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown.

“He played real well,” Thoren said. “I was happy with the way he played. He competed.”

Lawrence seemingly had its best defensive stop on the third Olathe Northwest drive, as the Lions forced the Ravens into a fourth-and-long with some strong tackling. The Ravens tried a quarterback pooch punt, which resulted in a first down for the Ravens on a roughing the kicker penalty.

Olathe Northwest drove downfield and drained the clock, ultimately scoring on a 6-yard run with 14 seconds left. Lawrence ran out the clock in the first half, down 7 points.

The second half was a drastically different story for the Lions. The offense struggled to finish drives, while the Ravens continued to run the ball and dictate the game.

Colton Curry saw his first action of the game and threw a pick-6 on the first pass of the drive, leading the Ravens to a two-score lead.

Dooley returned to the backfield and led the offense downfield with his and Edwards’ legs. Three-straight incomplete passes doomed the Lions’ drive at the Olathe Northwest 25 yard line, as they turned it over on downs.

Olathe Northwest continued to run the ball with Randall and quarterback Brody Comfort. Comfort scored on a quarterback run, taking a three-score lead.

Dooley found McGee for two quick chain-moving passes, followed by a 23-yard run by Edwards to the Olathe Northwest 31-yard line. The Lions showed a much-needed spark, but the Lions weren’t able to finish the drive.

The connection between Dooley and McGee was a bright spot, as the two connected for six times for 75 yards. McGee tied with Becker for the most receptions but led in receiving yards.

The Ravens called a timeout after the run and regrouped defensively. Edwards carried the ball for 1 yard, and two incompletions after set up a long fourth down. Dooley was hit just before throwing while scrambling, leading to a fumble out-of-bounds and a turnover on downs.

The Ravens quickly scored for the third time in the quarter on a 45-yard run. After holding a 7-point lead going into halftime, Olathe Northwest ended the third quarter up 38-10.

Thoren said he saw his team continue to compete, despite the score getting away, and that procedurally the team had improved and had less mistakes than in the first two weeks. Still, it wasn’t enough as the Lions couldn’t hold off the run attack.

Lawrence’s offense again moved the ball effectively between the 30-yard lines, but couldn’t finish drives. Edwards fumbled near the start of the fourth quarter, leading to the Ravens taking over at their 34-yard line. The Ravens drove down but missed on a 46-yard field goal, giving the Lions the ball back at their 20-yard line.

The Lions managed to move the ball through the air, but again stalled outside the Ravens’ 40-yard line, and a fourth-and-1 incomplete pass ended the drive with under 5 minutes left in the game.

Olathe Northwest punted on its next drive, giving the Lions a drive with a little over 2 minutes left on the clock.

Dooley and the Lawrence offense scored their second touchdown, as Dooley scrambled upfield for a 35-yard touchdown. The Lions attempted the onside kick but failed, giving the Ravens the ball back to kneel out the game and secure the win.

The Lions will return home next week as they host Mill Valley on Friday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.

Box score

LHS 3 7 0 7…17

ONW 3 14 21 0…38

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence head coach Jason Thoren waits with his team before they take the field for their game against Olathe Northwest on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, at the CBAC in Olathe.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence senior Joseph Lucas (13) smiles as the Lions charge onto the field to take on Olathe Northwest on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, at the CBAC in Olathe.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence junior Joseph Lucas attempts to block an Olathe Northwest field goal on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, at the CBAC in Olathe.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence receiver Khyree McGee waits for the snap before taking on the Olathe Northwest defense on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, at the CBAC in Olathe.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence senior Turner Juelsgaard lays down a big hit on the Olathe Northwest receiver to force an incompletion on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, at the CBAC in Olathe.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence junior Ty Sessions yells after the Lions tackle the Olathe Northwest ball carrier for a loss on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, at the CBAC in Olathe.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence quarterback Joey Dooley throws a pass after scrambling against the Olathe Northwest defense on Thursday, Sept 18, 2025, at the CBAC in Olathe.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence receiver Jaxon Becker celebrates his touchdown with junior Ethan Curry during the Lions’ game against Olathe Northwest on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, at the CBAC in Olathe.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

The Lawrence defense huddles on the field during a timeout during the Lions’ game against Olathe Northwest on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, at the CBAC in Olathe.